The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-29
there were pa persons, 27l of whom were

there were PA persons, 27l OF whom were
saved"
"An unusualnumber OF snowstorms and
the prevalence of fogs made the operations
OF the service more than commonly diff
cnlt and dangerous, but nevertheless the
station crews succeeded in saving much
greater number of lives and larger
amount of property than ever before, in
some instances performing ieats of unpar
alleled enterprise and daring.
'The following figures give asummary OF
the statistics Of the service from the intro
duction OF the present system in 1871 TO
the close OF the fiscal year.
Total number of disasters, 3,S52 total
value of vessels and cargoes involved, $685.
$40, 40; saved, SI7, $50, ,062; lost, $lS,2lS,-
7S7. Total number OF persons involved,
35,427; saved, -, SS3; lost, 5Ii.
The loss of life, as stated above, includes
lS3 persons lost at the wrecks of the steam
crs Huron and Metropolis and also four
teen other persons, really not chargeable
to the service, leaving the total number of
ives lost during the sixteen years Of the
existence OF the system only 347, out Of
over 5000 involved. New stations were
completed and put into commission during
the year at Frankfort, Pentwater, White
river, Holland South Haven and Sturgeon
bay canal, on Lake Michigan"
The general superintendent recommends
the establishment OF stations ut Ashtabula,
on Lake Eric, and Marquette, on Lake SUI
perlor. Measures are in progress for the
Improvement OF the service on the Pacific
commission Of officers being now en-
gagged upon that coast with this object in
view,
TuE INCANDEsCENT ELECTRIC LIGHT
The experiments with the incandescent
electric light which have been made at
the torpedo station at Newport have de-
velOped novel use for the little lamps,
and one that is said TO promise TO be Of
great value in naval warfare. With
| lamps OF about 100 candle power fastened
on the ends OF poles submerged in the sea
TO depth OF twenty feet, the water is so
illuminated that objects in IL can be dis
tinguished within radius OF $50 feet.
There Is little or no glare from the sub
merged light to betray the presence OF the
boat using the spars. II is believed that
by this means a boat might countermine
an cnemy's field of submarine mines by
cutting their cables or sweeping them TO
one side. II is probable that torpedo
launches will be equipped with these
lights in future.
FISHERIES NEGOTIATIONS.
The representatives Of the United States
and Great Britain, charged with the fish.
cries negotiations, met promptly at noon
today, in the diplomatic rcception-room at
the department Of state. This is the sec
ond formal meeting OF the conference, and
all OF the members were present, as well as
the two secretaries, Messrs. Moore and
Bergne. The English representatives
brought with them number Of official
documents, among them publicationson the
subject OF the fnherics, that have recently
come into the possession Of the American
negotiators, in the Canadian book OF dis
| patches, containing correspondence be-
tween the Canadian and English govern
ments, which was 10 = certain extent I'M
known 20 the department OF state, and is
/ expected 10 prove OF value in the pending
negotiations. The session lasted until .
/ o'clock, when an adjournment was had
'until Wednesday next al : o'clock.
TIE TELEPHONE QUESTION.
On next Thursday, December ], the
commissioner OF patents will hear argu.
ments OF counsel upon the petition OF
Elisha Gray for permission 10 amend his or.
iginal application for patent 10 an electric
telephone, filed October ~ 1877, 10y insert.
| ing therein the word metallic" 80 rs Ia
make the claim specifically Tor a metallic
mcphrgram. Should this petition he
granted, n new interference win he de.
clarcd, thus p-opening the original telo-
phone question.